how to tape the tube to reduce friction

If you are new to my website, and interested in learning about overgranulation tissue, first read the information found under the Hypergranulation Tissue page before going on to read this page.

As discussed in the topic on hypergranulation tissue, friction is your number one enemy when it comes to the stoma getting stuck in the abnormal “chronic wound” healing cycle. Although many people have ongoing problems with this tissue forming, just because it is common, does not make it normal.

What is triggering it is something that you have to figure out.

The short list of possible culprits are:

Continued minor trauma or friction from mobility

Infection– bacterial or fungal

Inflammation (due to either of the above).

Although it is possible there something else going on, such as a cellular imbalance, that is not a likely cause.

If you are not taping your tube, and you have a problem with hypergranulation tissue, this is the first place to start.

If you have a tape allergy, try Hy tape. It is latex free, and the adhesive is zinc oxide, rather than the adhesive used for other medical tapes. I can use it, and, if I can, with as severe of reactions as I get from any other tape, it is something I can wholeheartedly recommend for you to try.

Now, as hypergranulation tissue causes a good bit of oozy goop at the stoma, this also makes for a perfect moist environment for fungal infections, which in turn help the vicious cycle along as that just adds to the inflammatory response. So, to keep the stoma as dry as possible, and as much air to the skin as possible, it helps to put a pad under the bumper of a long tube style, or under the button of a low profile. Not only does this keep the device up off of the skin a bit, allowing for a tiny bit of air, at least, but, it also will soak up secretions.

I use cloth pads, and am not going to get into that now. The point being, before taping, you have to prepare the site.

Clean it up. Get all the crusty, gooey stuff off. Don’t use harsh cleansers. Use plain water, or mild baby wash, or a ph adjusted personal cleanser such as the one made by Smith &Nephew. DON’T use peroxide. No matter how rewarding it is to see the bubbly action, it is way too harsh.

Treat the stoma with either a natural antimicrobial anti inflammatory, a barrier cream, or, if you wish, first adequately protect surrounding tissue with a barrier cream or spray, and apply a mild caustic topical, such as Granulotion. This goes on the granulation tissue, and only the granulation tissue.

Put a cloth pad onto the skin, or a gauze square

Tape it so that there is no movement! You can worry about turning your tube (if you’re instructed to do so) before you retape it, when you repeat this process in the evening before bedtime.

If you have the long tube aka the dangler:

Remember your goal is to take the weight and the movement away from the stoma (where the tube goes through the abdomen) Tape over the external bumper. Make a hashtag, like this: #

And, keep the weight of the dangling tube off of the stoma too. Use a lanyard around your neck and attach to the end, or, coil it around and attach to clothing, or, tuck in your bra (ladies) Don’t let it move around or hang down.

Consider shortening the tube to make it more manageable.

Here are photos of the taping process. As I have a low profile, I can’t show you how to do a long tube.

If you have a button, here we go… (I put just a little strip of fabric around, under the button in the interest of showing the tape closer .

If you are ambulatory, stand up! The skin on the abdomen stretches, so if you’re all slumped over taping it while in a reclining position, when you stand, the tape may be too tight, (and pull loose ) or in the wrong spot.

Put a pad or gauze under the button, and open the cap

Tape over the side that has the strap for the cap, while the cap is open.

uncap and tape over that side with it open

Tape over the balloon port side

Tape over the balloon port

Put the cap back in place, and put two reinforcement strips of tape going across the two you just placed.